Tamping apparatus.



Y J. w. BRAstrln.

TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAF.1`8. 1911.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

" s sums-BAUM 2.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JOSEPH W. BRAGSTD, 0F CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRAGSTADBROS. CO., OF CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, A CORPORATION 0F SOUTH DAKOTA.

TAMPING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may cof/wcm:

Be itknown that I, JosErI-I W'. BRAcsTD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Canton, in the county of Lincoln and State ofSouth Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements y inTamping Apparatus, of which the follow ing is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a tamping apparatus for use in connection withblock molding machines and has for its object to provide an apparatus ofsuch character in a manner as hereinafter set forth for etlicientlytamping the constituents which form the molded block.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tamping apparatus foruse in connection with block molding machines and provided with a meansas hereinafter set forth whereby the elements of the apparatus can beshifted out `of the way to allow of the removal of t-he molded block orto permit of the supplying of material to form the block to the mold ofthe block molding machine.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a tamping apparatus foruse in connection with block molding machines, which is comparativelysimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, eflicientin its use, conveniently operated, readily iadjusted and set up withrespect to the block molding machine. and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangementof parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of theinvention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of theclaims hereunto ap` pended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of atamping apparatus in accordance with this invention showing theadaptation thereof in connection with the block `molding machine, Fig. 2is a per- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application led January 18, 1911.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Serial No. 603,280.

spective view of one of the tamping heads, Fig. 3 is a detailillustrating means for elevating the upper head carrying arm of a pairof head carrying arms, Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the apparatus, Fig.5 is a detail illustrating the combined lifter and tension applying arm,Fig. 6 is a detail of the supporting frame.

The tamping apparatus in accordance with this invention includes a.supporting frame formed of a pair of uprights 1, 2, a pair of upperbraces 3, 4 and a pair of lower braces 5, 6. The braces 3, 4 areangularly disposed for a portion of their length, while the braces 5, 6are angularly disposed with respect to the uprights 1, 2 and furtherextend upwardly at an inclination. The braces 3, 4 are adjustablyconnected as at 7 to the uprights l, 2 intermediate the ends thereof andthe braces 5, 6 are connected to the lower ends of the uprights 1, 2 asat 8. The braces 3, 5 at their inner ends are connected together by ahold-fast device 9, the latter also connects the said braces to the rearof the block molding machine, which is referred to generally by thereference character 10 and may be of any suitable construction. Thebraces 4, 6 are connected together and to the block molding machine 10in the manner as the braces 3, 5. The braces 3 to 6 support the uprights1, 2 rearwardly of and spaced from the machine 10. The mold of themachine 10 is indicated by thereference character 11 and to the rearwall of said mold a pair of vertically dis posed curved guides 12, 13are secured,these elements are utilized for guiding the supporting armsfor the tamping heads which will be hereinafter referred to.

Rotatably mounted at the upper ends of the uprights 1, 2 is a shaft 14having xed thereto in proximity to each end a pair of oppositelydisposed cams 15, 16 which are employed to assist in oscillating thetamping head supporting arms to be presently referred to. Fixed to theshaft 14 is a sprocket wheel 17, which is engaged by a transmission belt18 whereby on t-he travel of said belt the shaft 14 will be revolved.Journaled for rotation within the uprights 1, 2 and below the shaft 14is an operating shaft 19 provided with a sprocket wheel 20 over whichthe transmission belt 18 travels. The shaft 19 projects from the upright2 and is provided with a pulley 21 connected in a suitable manner to aprime mover, although if desired the shaft can be operated in anysuitable manner.

As shown the apparatus is provided with two pairs of tamping headsupporting arms, but this number can be increased or diminished ifdesired. Each pair of tamping head supporting arms is of the sameconstruction, so but one will be described, the description of oneapplies to the other. The supporting arms of each pair include what istermed an upper and lower supporting arm, the lower arm is indicated bythe reference character 22 and the upper arm at- 23. The forward end ofthe arm 22 is bent downwardly as at 24 and has fiXedly connected theretoas at 25 a tamping head or hammer 26, the latter being provided with avertically disposed apertured lug 27, which is connected as at 25 to thearm 22. The arm 23 at its rear is bent downwardly as at 26'r1 andpivotally connected to the arm 22 at 27, The forward end of the arm 23extends downwardly as at 28 and is iXedly connected to a tamping head orhammer 26, as at 29. Connected to the arm 23 forwardly of the portion26a is a pair of depending members 30 which straddle the arm 22 as wellas depend below said arm. The lower ends of the members 30 are formedintegral with a casing 31 in which is arranged a coil spring 32. Thefunction of the spring 32 and its supporting means is to hold the upperarm 23 to the lower arm. The upper and lower arms of one pair travel inthe guide 12, while the upper and lower arms of the other pair travel inthe guide 13. The arms of each pair during the operation of the tampingapparatus oscillate and the manner in which oscillations are imparted toeach pair of arms will be presently referred to. The lower arm of onepair at its rear end is provided with a sleeve 34 loosely mounted uponAthe shaft 19 and the lower arm of the other pair at its rear end isprovided with a sleeve 35 which is also loosely mounted upon the shaft19. A stop collar 36 is provided to prevent the shifting of the sleeve34 toward the sleeve 35 while shifting movement. of the sleeve 35 towardthe sleeve 34 is arrested by the hub 37 of the sprocket 20, said hub 37being fixed to the shaft 19. Formed integral with the sleeve 34 is avertically disposed crank arm 38 bifurcated at its upper end, as at 39and carrying at its upper end a roller 40. The sleeve 35 has avertically disposed crank arm 41 formed integral therewith and which hasits upper end bifurcated, as at 42 and connected to the bifurcated endof the crank 41 is a roller 43. The arm 38 and its roller 40 associatewith the cam 15 and the arm 41 and its roller 43 associate with the cam16. The cams 15 and 16 lduring the rotation of the shaft 14 alter`nately engage the rollers 40, 43 whereby the crank arms 38 41 areshifted rearwardly and the pairs of tamping head supporting arms areelevated. Each pair of arms being alternately elevated with respect toeach other. The elevation of the tamping head supporting arms is hadagainst the action of the springs 44, which are connected at their upperends as at 45 to the arms 22 and at their lower ends, as at 46 to thesupporting members 47, which are fixed to the adjusting shaft 48, thelatter being journaled in the uprights 1, 2 below the shaft 19 and hasone end projecting therefrom as at 49.

Projecting forwardly from the upright 1 and at the upper portion thereofis a curved rack 5() which associates with an adjusting lever 51, thelatter being fixed to the proj ecting end 49 of the shaft 48 and isprovided with a spring pressed dog 52 for engagement with the teeth ofthe rack 50. Then the lever 51 is swung forwardly, the members 47 arelowered thereby increasing tension in the springs 44. The lever 51 ismaintained in adjusted position while the dog 52 engages in one of theteeth of the rack 50. Then the lever 51 is swung backwardly tension ofthe springs 44is relieved.

For throwing the supporting arms for the tamping heads out of operativeposition so that the rollers 43 will be clear of the path of the cams15, 16, a pair of vertically disposed upwardly movable supports 53 areprovided having their upper ends formed with lugs 54 positioned inalinement with the arms 22. The supports 53 are fixed to the members 47,so that when the lever 51 is swung rearwardly the supports 53 will moveupwardly and the lugs 54 engage with the arms 22 elevating said arms andshifting the sleeves 34, 35 rearwardly whereby the rollers 40, 43 willbe moved out of the path of the cams 15, 16 thereby discontinuing theoscillations of the tamping head supporting arms.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus can be readilyunderstood, but it will be stated that when the rollers 40, 43 areshifted in the path of the cams 15, 16 on a forward movement of thelever 51, said rollers 40, 43 will be engaged by the cams and the pairsof tamping head supporting arms will b ealternately elevated against theaction of the springs 44 and when the cams 15, 16 pass clear of therollers 40, 43, the springs 44 will pull the supporting arms downwardly,whereby these latter will in connection with the cams and springs bealternately oscillated and such operation will be continued as long asthe shaft 19 is operated or as long as the rollers 40, 43 lie in thepath of the cams 15, 16.

What I claim is:

l. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs of tamping head supporting arms, one of said arms arranged overand depending forwardly of the other, a tamping head connected totheforward ends of each of the arms of said pairs of arms, means wherebyeach pair of arms is alternately operated, one of said arms of each pairof arms pivotally connected to the other arm of the pair, and aresilient connection between one of the arms of each pair and the otherarm of the pair.

2. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs 5 of tamping head supporting arms, each palr including an upperand a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected to the lowerarm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, a tampinghead connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm,means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, and resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered.

A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a plurality ofpairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair including an upper anda lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected to the lower arm,said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, a tamping headconnected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm, meanswhereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilient meanswhereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, and means whereby thetension of said resilient means can be increased or diminished.

4. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair including an upperand a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected to the lowerarm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, a tampinghead connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm,means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, means wherebythe tension of said resilient means can be increased or diminished, anda resilient connection between the upper arm and the lower arm of eachpair of arms.

A tamping apparat-us for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair including an upperand a lower arm and with the upper arm. pivotally connected to the lowerarm, said upper arm projecting' forwardly of the lower arm, a tampinghead connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm,means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, and means`engaging with the lower arms of said pairs of arms for elevating themthereby moving the said arms to inoperative position.

6. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair including an upperand a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected to the lowerarm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, a tampinghead connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm,means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, means wherebythe tension of said resilient means can be increased or diminished, andmeans engaging with the lower arms of said pairs of arms for ele-vatingthem thereby moving the said arms to inoperative position.

7. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising a pluralityof pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair including an upperand a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected to the lowerarm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, a tampinghead connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lower arm,means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, means wherebythe tension of said resilient means can be increased or diminished, aresilient connection between the upper arm and the lower arm of eachpair of arms, and means engaging with the lower arms of said pairs ofarms for elevating them thereby moving the said arms to inoperativeposition.

8. A tamping apparatus for block mold* ing machines comprising aplurality of pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair includingan upper and a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected tothe lower arm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, atamping head connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lowerarm, means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, means wherebythe tension of said resilient means can be increased or diminished,means engaging with the lower arms of said pairs of arms for elevatingthem thereby moving the said arms to inoperative position, and a guidefor each pair of arms.

9. A tamping apparatus for block mold ing machines comprisin g aplurality of pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair includingan upper and a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected tothe lower arm, said upper arm projecting forwardly to the lower arm, atamping head connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lowerarm, means whereb-y the pairs of arms are alternately elevated,resilient means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, meanswhereby the tension of said resilient means can be increased ordiminished, a resilient connection bet-ween the upper arm and the lowerarm of each pair of arms, means engaging with the lower arms of saidpairs of arms for elevating them thereby moving the said arms toinoperative position, and a guide for each pair of arms.

l0. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising aplurality of pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair includingan upper and a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally connected tothe lower arm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, atamping head connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lowerarm, means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, and a guide foreach pair of arms.

l1. A tamping apparatus for block molding machines comprising aplurality of pairs of tamping head supporting arms, each pair includingan upper and a lower arm and with the upper arm pivotally Connected tothe lower arm, said upper arm projecting forwardly of the lower arm, atamping head connected to the forward ends of each upper and each lowerarm, means whereby the pairs of arms are alternately elevated, resilientmeans whereby the pairs of arms are alternately lowered, means wherebythe teng sion of said resilient means can be increased or diminished,and a guide for each pair of arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH W. BRAGSTD.

Vitnesses J. G. LAXsoN, E. M. DEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

